SIGURD. Fair is thy judgment, Ornulf; the three hundred pieces will
I pay, and add thereto a silken cloak fringed with gold. It is a gift
from King AEthelstan of England, and better has no Icelander yet borne.
DAGNY. So be it, my brave husband; and my father, I thank thee. Now
at last is my mind at ease.
(She presses her father's and brothers' hands, and talks low
to them.)
ORNULF. Then thus stands the treaty between us; and from this day
shall Dagny be to the full as honourably regarded as though she had
been lawfully betrothed to thee, with the good will of her kin.
SIGURD. And in me canst thou trust, as in one of thine own blood.
ORNULF. That doubt I not; and see! I will forthwith prove thy
friendship.
SIGURD. Ready shalt thou find me; say, what dost thou crave?
ORNULF. Thy help in rede and deed. I have sailed hither to
Helgeland to seek out Gunnar Headman and draw him to reckoning
for the carrying away of Hiordis.
SIGURD (surprised). Gunnar!
DAGNY (in the same tone). And Hiordis--where are they?
ORNULF. In Gunnar's homestead, I ween.
SIGURD. And it is----?
ORNULF. Not many bow-shots hence; did ye not know?
SIGURD (with suppressed emotion). No, truly. Small tidings have I
had of Gunnar since we sailed from Iceland together. I have wandered
far and wide and served many outland kings, while Gunnar sat at home.
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